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Corps supports canoeists, kayakers, rafters on Otter Brook with white water releases from Otter Brook dam in Keene

Published April 4, 2014

CONCORD, Mass. – Controlled releases of water will be made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, from Otter Brook Lake Dam in Keene, New Hampshire, on Saturday, April 12, 2014 and on Sunday, April 13, 2014 to provide adequate river flows for recreational canoeing, kayaking and rafting, according to Corps of Engineers officials.

 

The Corps of Engineers will provide water release flows from Otter Brook Lake Dam of approximately 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) starting on Saturday, April 12 about 9 a.m. and continuing until about 3:30 p.m. Then water releases will resume on Sunday, April 13 about 9 a.m. and continue until about 3:30 p.m., or until the volume of water for release is depleted, according to Project Manager James Lewis of Otter Brook Lake in Keene.

 

Depending on the weather, the white water event organizers anticipate about 40 to 50 people will take advantage of the water releases for recreational purposes.  

 

Construction of Otter Brook Lake Dam on Otter Brook in Keene was completed in 1958 at a cost of $4.4 million. The 133‑foot‑high, 1,288‑foot‑long dam can impound a reservoir with a storage capacity of 5.7 billion gallons of water.  During the 1987 flood, this dam utilized 100 percent of its storage capacity and prevented $3.6 million in damages. 

 

Since the construction in 1958, the dam has prevented flood damages of $46.8 million ($97.8 million, corrected for inflation).  More than 39,000 visitors annually enjoy the swimming, picnicking, boating, fishing and hunting available at the 458‑acre facility. 

 

Another white water release from Otter Brook Lake Dam is scheduled for May 3-4, 2014. The water releases that support these recreational activities are subject to an adquate volume of water being available for release and could be cancelled during low flow or high flow events, or storm events. 

 

For more information contact the Park Ranger staff at Otter Brook Lake at  (603) 352-4130 or visit the website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/OtterBrookLake.aspx.


Contact
Tim Dugan
978-318-8264
cenae-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 2014-037